I could feel her embarrassment like a vice. It tightened and tightened as she sputtered out some sounds that weren't quite her English words.

She's skittish because she's unsure. The realization clicked into place. I'd been worrying this whole time that it was me that she didn't like, but I'd realized she'd been fine with me when there was no mention of sex. I'd even been able to hold her in my arms for a time without any hint of stress, but as soon as I talked of mating it rose to the surface, quick and lethal.

I could feel the embarrassment start to turn to anger. It was her defense. You're about to see the anger that you'd just mentioned and you've certainly done something to displease her. I wasn't sure why she was displeased, though. While we didn't have many females, as a race we were quite open about sexual practices. One could or could not have mated and it would hold no bearing on their worth. And yet, Addison was Val'Kier only formally. I frequently forgot that she was raised with completely different customs.

"I apologize if I overstepped a boundary in your culture."

"Overstepped?! That's a personal question. I can't believe you even asked that. Besides, what does it matter if I am?"

"It doesn't matter to me. Like I said I want you no matter what."

"Yeah, sure I'll believe that 'it doesn't matter' bullshit when I see it. It always matters."

"Nothing matters prior to a mate bond snapping into place. As a race, we are remarkably open about sexual practices."

"I find that hard to believe about a race so focused on children and specific fated mates."

"The ability for the soulbond between two mates to actually tighten happens well into maturity. Prior to that time that bond tends to be mostly inactive. It prevents Temani Bercari from occurring before both mates are prepared for it. Children can only be conceived between mates in our race as well. We are hot-blooded creatures just like you humans are, Addison. While some choose to wait, others do not."

Her anger still, simmered but it wasn't the same broiling heat that it was before, "So what are you then?"

"I've been to many places and met many different creatures in my searching. I have never physically shared bodies with another female. However, there was an opportunity to learn how to please a female once upon a time ago on a small moon city. It was purely a holographic experience, but I did take it," I shrugged. I didn't regret the decision to learn those skills, but I was afraid she would think less of me for making that choice, despite the fact that I knew the occurrence had a similar comparison on Earth thanks to some of the Earth vids that had found their way onto the media viewscreens.

Her anger cooled slightly.

"I'm sorry that I've upset you."

"No, I'm fine. It's whatever."

She was decidedly not fine if her swirling emotions had anything to say about the matter. "You don't feel fine," I hazarded a look in her direction.

The anger was back.

A small voice whispered in my head, You've gotten the anger you just told her you wanted to see.

"Still in my head, huh?" She dropped down to sit in front of me in a huff, "Show me how to keep you out." Her eyes blazed a challenge back at me.

It was astounding, the switch between the shy and skittish female that couldn't meet my gaze and the brash and confident female that so liked to challenge me when she got angry. For a small moment, I imagined her comfortable with me. I imagined her brash and bold with me in her passions. My breath caught in my throat for a moment and the crotch of my pants was suddenly too confining. I shifted my legs, to keep her from noticing my state. It wouldn't do to have her skittish again. At least not now when I needed to manipulate her emotions.

"First, you have to think of something you know as acutely as you know the feel of being in your own skin. Something that you can think of to the minutest detail. It should be a full-fledged, memory, but for no focus on a single thing. Once you've chosen your focus I will try to manipulate your emotions. I've chosen joy because it's an easy enough emotion to see and it's hard to hide. You, humans, explained it well when you called it 'infectious', though the imagery is less than pleasant. We will continue until you wish to stop, or until we can feel a resistance to our bond."

She nodded.

"Addison, I have to warn you that, because of the nature of my abilities and our bond there is a possibility you won't be able to block me. Or, there's the possibility that should you create a block, it won't last forever."

She looked displeased by that information, but there was a determination there, "We won't know until we try. Besides I'm sure you're tired of my mood swings at this point."

I would never tire of her moods and the feel of her soul filling up the spaces in the rooms around me, but I didn't think she'd like that answer very much. The need to tell her about the scenting was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't make myself tell her. She looked too ready. Too determined to do everything to fight because that was who she was. "Think of your focus and we'll begin."